Mental health

Xavier Becerra, a Democrat who served as California attorney general and U.S. health secretary, is California's governor-elect, succeeding Gavin Newsom. Becerra, 68, grew up in Sacramento to Mexican immigrant parents and built a legislative career, including 24 years in Congress, contrasting with Newsom's executive-heavy path and higher national profile. Allies describe Becerra as methodical and low-key, pledging continuity on Newsom's housing and mental health initiatives while avoiding firm new commitments, including on the death penalty moratorium. His measured, light-on-promises approach drew criticism from Republican rival Steve Hilton during the campaign, but supporters say it may foster closer cooperation with the Legislature once he takes office.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis unveiled his final budget proposal, totaling just over $51 billion, about $580 million more than last year. The plan slows Medicaid growth by roughly $665 million, adding prior authorization for some behavioral health services and eliminating adult dental care, in-home therapy, and coverage for undocumented women and children. Polis says the goal is protecting access, not removing people from Medicaid. The budget boosts K-12 funding by $212 million, adds $3 million for auto theft prevention, and sets aside $10 million to attract a new Space Academy. It also asks voters to raise casino and tobacco taxes for childcare programs. The legislature will finalize the budget.

A Harris County grand jury indicted ICE agent Mario Alberto Morales on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, about 20 days after an October 10 incident in which Miguel Parra Hernandez was struck and run over by Morales's SUV in northwest Harris County. Immigrant-rights group FIEL Houston, joined by Parra Hernandez's family, legal team and a witness's relatives, held a news conference calling the indictment historic and demanding accountability.

Attorney Kim Bruno said body-camera footage contradicts ICE's initial account and that Parra Hernandez, who suffered fractures, nerve damage and remains unable to walk, faces an expedited immigration process despite hospitalization. The family and advocates are calling for the release of Parra Hernandez, witness Luis Delfin and others connected to the case. ICE has called the indictment politically motivated and disputed the state's authority to prosecute a federal officer; the case remains ongoing.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton toured the Youngstown Business Incubator and rallied in Liberty, stressing ties to Mahoning and Trumbull counties ahead of Election Day against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton has repeatedly addressed a Ramaswamy-backed ad featuring her estranged mother, calling her a liar and alleging mental health issues; Gov. Mike DeWine called it exploitative. Both candidates are closing with pitches on Ohio's affordability crisis, with Ramaswamy touting his business background and property-tax executive orders, and Acton emphasizing public-service experience, a working families tax cut, and school funding.

Ramaswamy has self-funded and outspent Acton nearly $80 million to $34 million overall, though Acton has outraised him recently; both have shattered Ohio's gubernatorial fundraising record, and neither has held elected office before. Democrats are banking on a late push, including a Cleveland rally with Barack Obama and expanded early voting, as prediction markets show Acton favored heading into Election Day.

Baton Rouge has been selected to receive federal funding through the Justice Department's Model Cities Initiative, a $300 million competitive grant program aimed at addressing police staffing shortages. Jackson, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; and St. Louis, Missouri, were also chosen. Exact grant amounts have not yet been announced by Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Funds can go toward hiring, training and retention, equipment and technology such as license plate readers and drones, and mental health and substance use services. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy helped East Baton Rouge Parish leaders apply. Some eligible cities, including Houston, declined funding over concerns about conditions tied to administration policies. Applications were open to jurisdictions over 100,000 people, due by September 1.

With polls showing a tight contest days before the Nov. 3 election, LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman has detailed plans to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Her platform includes moving the city's homelessness budget away from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, giving the city controller broad audit power, and cutting encampments by half before the 2028 Olympics. On housing, she pledges a "shot clock" for permits, self-certification for simple projects, new high-rise zones, and a Office of Tenant Protections. On public safety, Raman would expand unarmed crisis response teams and has signaled she would replace LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Bass, in office since 2022, has faced scrutiny over wildfire response, federal immigration enforcement, and homelessness policy, issues likely to shape how voters weigh the race's outcome.

The Dayton Branch of the NAACP is asking Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to grant executive clemency to China Arnold, 46, who is serving life without parole for the 2005 microwave death of her 28-day-old daughter, Paris Talley. Arnold was convicted in her third trial in 2011 after a mistrial and an overturned conviction; she has maintained her innocence throughout. NAACP President Derrick Foward called her a model inmate and noted her three surviving children have grown up without her. The group is urging DeWine to act before he leaves office in January, framing the case as a test of clemency and sentencing proportionality in Ohio's justice system.